Enklawa scytyjskiego kręgu kulturowego w południowo-wschodniej Polsce

Abstract

In 2016-2018 archaeological excavations were carried out on a large stronghold in Chotyniec, Jaroslaw district (south-eastern Poland), and they are still underway. Their results can already be deemed a breakthrough in understanding the cultural situation of the early Iron Age in the borderland area of central and eastern Europe. This article, which is the first broad presentation of the findings, indicates the connection of the site with the Scythian cultural circle. This is evidenced by many facts: the large strategically-located defensive complex with open settlements around it; the material culture (militaria, jewellery, pottery made according to the style in force in the eastern European forest steppe zone); and the ceremonial-ritual feature, i.e., the zolnik, with fragments of Greek wine amphorae found within it. The latter are the only finds of this type in Poland. The article also presents the significance of the discoveries in Chotyniec, both for the entire Scythian circle and for the interpretation of Scythian finds from the Vistula River basin. early Iron Age, south-eastern Poland, Scythians, stronghold, zolnik (ash feature), Greek amphorae